Saint Francis Xavier

Xavier, Saint Francis (Spanish: Francisco Javier; 1506–52), Spanish missionary. A friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola, he helped him found the order of Jesuits. In 1541 he set out as a missionary, reaching the East Indies, Goa, India, Malacca, and Ceylon. In 1549 he established a Jesuit mission in Japan and in 1552 sought to extend his work to China, but died on Shangchuan while waiting for permission to enter the country. His feast day is Dec. 3.

See also: Jesuits.